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Washington DC, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Third Party Plan Reviews and Inspections

Client

As building department to the nation�s capitol, The Washington DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Building Land and Regulation Administration (BLRA) processes the applications and permits of thousands of businesses, corporations, and individuals who are seeking to do business with the Federal Government, serve the millions of tourists flocking in from all over the world, in addition to serving the resident community.

Challenge

Every year, DCRA/BLRA received more permit applications, and it became increasingly difficult to process the applications and provide the staff necessary to review plans. DCRA/BLRA was experiencing growing pains, and had to find a way to meet the expectations of a growing community. Toward that end, they created a Third Party Plan Review Program, allowing outside agencies to work for DCRA/BLRA and provide plan review services.

IBTS stepped in shortly after the program�s inception. The challenge IBTS faced was that many of DC's buildings were substantially old. Different building codes were in force when those buildings were approved and built. IBTS had to devise methods for reviewing those plans in such a way as to make the structures safe and meet today�s building code requirements.

IBTS Solutions

  • IBTS worked with clients and staff to devise a system that is efficient, cohesive, and within the framework of DCRA/BLRA requirements.
  • IBTS gathered a highly capable and certified plan review and inspection team knowledgeable in renovating older buildings.
  • IBTS reviews plans as thoroughly and completely as possible to save DCRA/BLRA time.
  • As representatives of DCRA/BLRA, IBTS keeps clients informed of all DCRA/BLRA requirements and processes every step of the way.

Benefits

  • IBTS reduced the burdens of a growing building department by providing a thorough review of plans prior to their arrival at DCRA/BLRA.
  • DCRA/BLRA benefited from a team of certified and professional plan review experts knowledgeable of DC building structural issues and DCRA/BLRA building code requirements.
  • IBTS worked quickly and cohesively with clients, staff, and DCRA/BLRA to move the permit application processes saving DCRA/BLRA time and money.

Testimonials

I would like to take this time to express my sincere thanks to IBTS for the inspection services your staff has provided in the last several months. It has been a pleasure to have IBTS personnel assisting the District of Columbia Department of Community and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). By providing qualified, professional, certified inspectors to the DCRA, IBTS was able to fill a manpower gap during a critical rebuilding period of the District of Columbia's inspection function. We found the management team to be very professional, responsive and cooperative when it came to filling our inspection needs.

IBTS clearly understood the District's critical mission and need of providing reliable inspection services while delivering inspectors that were equipped and prepared to conduct inspections as soon as they could be assigned. The work these inspectors completed met the highest of professional standards. They are to be commended for their efforts. Most of these inspectors came from out of state, and they were immediately able to become familiar and acclimated to the District and to the Department's procedures and processes. The IBTS team exhibited a show of adaptability and dynamic flexibility which the Department and District building community really appreciated. Their transition to the tasks at hand was seamless and resulted in the completion of over 1,500 inspections in all inspection disciplines ranging from building construction inspections to special assignment site assessments.

As necessary, the Department looks forward to being able to utilize IBTS to fulfill any future inspection or administrative needs. Your staff's overall responsiveness and professional approach to providing services is outstanding and meets the highest of expectations. Again thank you for your services and assistance.

--Donald Masoero, CBO/ICA, Chief Building Inspector, DCRA